24 February 2014

Planting gospel-centred churches in Europe

Churches can thrive even in the most secular continent in the world, says Acts 29 Europe. The organisation will unpack the biblical mandate, theological foundation and strategies behind church-planting at their Multiplying Churches conference in London, 4-5 March.

Focusing on the art of church-planting, the Acts 29 Europe conference will explain the essentials for scattering churches around the world.

The gathering aims to equip leaders and visionaries to plant explicitly gospel-centred churches that can flourish and reproduce even in hostile environments such as Europe.

Jiří Unger, president of the European Evangelical Alliance and general secretary of the Czech Evangelical Alliance, said: "Church-planting initiatives across Europe – particularly in the last two decades – have become major sources of innovation in a lifestyle of mission. It has also helped people identify new and effective ways of reaching neighbours with the gospel.

"In UK, Germany, France, Ukraine, Baltic states and in many other countries church-planting has been instrumental in bringing back denominational vitality, in recruiting new leaders and making churches more visionary.

"There is a long way to go but we can be encouraged that it's possible. We can reinvent ourselves and get a better understanding of how to relate to the people and communities around us in a fresh and authentic way."

Steve Timmis, director of Acts 29 Europe, said: "Europe is massive with just a small percentage who know Christ. In the UK there are whole council estates with up to 20,000 people with no Christian witness.

"Church-planting is not a new thing, but when it comes to reaching people with the gospel and discipling believers, it is still the best thing, because it is God's thing. The local Church is God's primary mission strategy."

Acts 29 Europe is a church-planting network made up of church planters from across the continent who are passionate about outreach.

The Multiplying Churches conference will include plenary sessions, break-out groups and robust practical theology for anyone who wants to grow in knowledge and be a faithful and competent minister of Christ.

Relevant to those who serve in the home, the workplace, or in full-time gospel ministry, the conference will encourage all to be involved with mission in an indifferent and increasingly hostile world.